It’s a 96-degree day and you decide to go cool off at the swimming pool.

While in the water, you hear a whistle blow and then see a lifeguard dive into the deep end to bring a child to the side. That is called a “save.”

The Ellsworth Municipal Swimming Pool lifeguards are there to do just that — to save you and your children from getting hurt or drowning.

Meriam Webster dictionary defines a lifeguard as: “a person who supervises the safety and rescue of swimmers, surfers and other water sports.”

The Ellsworth pool lifeguards are trained professionals in water safety. Each is certified in accordance to American Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety protocol.

Stacey Scritchfield, lifeguard training instructor, described the pretesting students must go through to prove they have the endurance and strength to handle a water crisis: The student must swim 300 yards — 100 feet in a front crawl, 100 feet in a breast stroke and then 100 feet of either one or both. This is without a break.

Then there is the brick dive. The student swims 20 yards and makes a surface dive 12 feet down to bring back a 10-pound brick. The brick is brought to the surface, held to the swimmer’s chest and brought to the side using a backstroke kick. The brick is heaved onto the deck of the pool and the student climbs out of the water without using a ladder. The time between retrieving the brick and getting to the side is two minutes.

After the brick test, there is a two-minute water tread without arm assist.

When the pretest is passed, there are 15 hours of class time and 10 more hours in the pool acting out crisis situations.

The students receive training in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), the AED (Automated External Defibrillator) and First Aid.

Upon class completion, lifeguards are certified and must be recertified every two years. Nine lifeguards are on duty rotating between the concession stand and pool areas every 15 minutes to retain focus.

In addition, they assist with morning swim lessons and maintain the pool and facility. Some offer private swimming lessons.

The lifeguards available for an interview shared what they like about their job:

• They look forward to working with their friends.

• The job is not boring,

• They enjoy working with the children.

What is the biggest challenge they face?

• Deepwater rescues.

• Children with little or no swimming skills wanting to jump off the diving board into deep water.

• Children who panic when they realize they cannot touch bottom. That happens often.

Their goals are to watch over you as you enjoy your swim and give you peace of mind that you will be safe in the water.

The lifeguards of the Ellsworth swimming pool truly are the heroes of the summer.